Maryland men’s soccer defender Alex Crognale earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after scoring two goals in the Terps’ 3-2 win over Wisconsin on Friday.
Though Crognale plays center back, coach Sasho Cirovski gets him involved on set pieces. Using his 6-foot-5, 201-pound frame, the senior has scored all four of his goals this season in those situations.
The Gahanna, Ohio, native’s first goal against the Badgers came off a free kick from midfielder Amar Sejdic in the 12th minute. Badgers goalkeeper Philipp Schilling ran out of goal to catch the ball, but Crognale got to the ball first, heading it into the back of the net.
Wisconsin then scored twice, and the game stayed 2-1 until the final moments. But with Maryland’s undefeated season in jeopardy, Crognale netted the equalizer with less than three minutes left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
Sejdic sent a cross into the box in the 88th minute that defender Chris Odoi-Atsem headed toward the right goalpost. The ball glided towards Crognale, who beat the goalkeeper for the second time that night.
